Anti-F(ab')2 antibody response to the injection of anticlass II HLA alloantibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Placenta eluted gamma globulins (PEGG) contain antibodies against class II HLA antigens and have been used for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In view of the potential use of antibodies to class II HLA for treating autoimmune diseases we looked for the immunobiological effects of PEGG injections in patients. No modulation of class II HLA was seen at the surface of circulating mononuclear cells after one week of daily PEGG injections. In some patients, antibodies to F(ab')2 fragments of PEGG-IgG were produced. These antibodies reacted against F(ab')2 of any IgG as well and did not prevent anticlass II HLA antibodies from binding to class II HLA, thus showing no characteristics of classical antiidiotypic antibodies. The appearance of anti-F(ab')2 antibodies was not correlated with the clinical course of the disease. Their significance is discussed.